Suspect Identified in Murders of Jennifer Hudson’s Mother, Brother

Posted Oct. 25, 2008- A man suspected in the deaths of Jennifer Hudson's mother and brother is now in police custody. But Hudson's nephew is still missing, and his mother cannot be located.

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The suspect, William Balfour, who married Hudson's sister, Julia, in 2006, was believed to have abducted his stepson, Julian King, but when he was arrested Friday night, the boy was not with him. Illinois State Police have issued an AMBER Alert for 7-year-old Julian King. Police say he was taken from the scene in a 1994 white Chevrolet Suburban or a teal-green Chrysler Concorde. Hudson’s sister, Julia, who is Julian’s mother, has not been since her work shift ended Friday, TMZ reports. She works as a Chicago bus driver.

Balfour, who is currently on parole after serving time in prison for attempted murder, is reportedly not cooperating with police and is refusing to supply them with information, according to WFLD-Chicago.

The murders of Darnell Donnerson, Hudson's 57-year-old mother and her brother, 29-year-old Jason Hudson, appeared to be the result of a domestic dispute, Chicago Police said. Donerson had been shot in the head and Jason Hudson in the chest.

Neighbors reported hearing gunshots about 9 a.m., but it was not until Friday afternoon that a family member found their bodies. Police say there were no signs of forced entry.

Balfour’s mother, Michelle, denies that her son had anything to do with the murders.

"I didn't raise no murderer," she said. "He was not a child abductor. They have the wrong person." She pleaded with Julian's kidnapper to return him to his mother.

Jennifer Hudson won an Academy Award for best supporting actress in 2007 for her role in Dreamgirls. In an interview last year with Vogue, Hudson credited her mother with encouraging her to audition for American Idol, which launched her career.